Democrats win some Elections

I think there was an election yesterday?

Virginia witnessed a massive polling error as Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam beat all expectations to win the gubernatorial race there. Likewise, Governor-elect Phil Murphy coasted to victory, buoyed by the unpopularity of Governor Chris Christie. Across the nation, the extreme unpopularity of the Republican Congress and President Trump manifested itself at the polls. Most poignantly, Democrats gained control of the Washington State Senate and seem to have achieved a majority in the Virginia House of Delegates (recounts will be necessary). Yesterday was also a big win for the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, which will probably arrive in two new states next year. Maine approved its expansion in a ballot referendum and Virginia will likely follow suit if Republicans don't sweep the remaining recounts.

Turnout among younger voters and college educated voters remained steady from 2016 while rural whites without tertiary educations did not vote in the same numbers as last year. This ought to serve as a warning to the Republicans hoping to win reelection to Congress in 2018: The fundamentals favor the Democrats.

Some Republicans might believe that the recently announced House tax reform bill is the magic elixir necessary to regain Americans' trust. However, it would be extremely foolish to believe 218 congressional seats can be won without the support of Republicans living in High-Tax blue states. Consider the five Republicans representing New Jersey in Congress or the dozen or so Republicans hailing from affluent districts in California. How do you think voters there would react if the deduction for state income taxes was done away with?

Winning reelection is going to require Republicans to reconcile the diverse pile of competing interests under their umbrella. Most fundamentally, there is the conflict between the business wing and its newfound lower class base. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not going to be a winning strategy when the party depends on Peter's vote.

Regardless of how things go, this liberal has got his popcorn and is ready to watch the show.

Bob Marshall lost his reelection bid after proposing transphobic legislation and repeatedly demeaning his female opponent, repeatedly misidentifying her as a man in campaign literature. Nevertheless, Danica Roem has chosen to take the high road and not rub Marshall’s nose in the dirt.

Neither of those wins is earth shattering. Hilary won both of those states. New Jersey is the least suprising. Christy won because people were absolutely fed up with the democrats after the Corzine scandle. Gillespie is an establishment Republican who was never get the voters out to get him across the finish line.

Save your popcorn, Warren. Nothing all that surprising really happened yesterday. A democrat replaced a democrat in Virginia? A democrat beat a Republican with Christie hanging around her neck? Highly competitive race in Wash. state finally swung the other way? Off year elections?
Sorry Warren, despite what the media and drones are claiming, you are going to have to wait until next year for your “the extreme unpopularity of the Republican Congress and President Trump” claim to have that much bite.

And do you really believe that Marshall lost reelection because he didn’t want grown men showering with girls, or for calling a man a man? Please.
From what I have read, Roem ran a smart campaign on the issues his constituents cared about. Don’t sh*t all over his hard work and effort with the ‘transphobic’ nonsense.

The Virginia election was big news because the state is something of a microcosm for the nation. It was not just that the Democrats won- it is where they won it, and by how much. The Red parts of the state, the rural parts, voted for the GOP. The Blue parts, the urban areas, voted for Democrats. The difference was in the suburbs, and the GOP got absolutely shellacked. Before the election, polls showed the Democratic candidate for Governor with a lead of 3,6, and 9 points. Averages including other polls showed a 3-4 point lead. The Governor won by 9 points, and that was because of the suburbs.

Some blame Trump. His approval ratings are between 34-38%, the lowest approval at this point of a presidency in the history of polling. It is really bad. The GOP candidate, a GOP establishment figure, tried to run away from Trump in the northern part of the state, but tied himself to Trump in the southern part. It was a disaster. Voters in the north saw the ads the GOP was running in the south, really racist stuff about sanctuary cities (there are none in VA), ads calculated to appeal to hatred of immigrants with talk of gangs and high crime (VA ranks low among states for crime), and so on.

The problem is people in the cities and suburbs saw that stuff.

Boom!

The biggest concern in the suburbs was health care.

Right now the GOP is pushing tax cuts for the rich and corporations. Imagine how middle class voters will feel if this ever goes through, and they realize that by 2026 taxes will increase for 45% of them, all in order to redistribute wealth to corporations and the richest of the rich.

There is just no way to sugar coat this for the GOP. CNN called the Republican party a “seething cauldron of panic.” The Democrats are licking their chops and sharpening their knives.

If this was warning to anyone, it’s establishment Republicans. Trump was elected on his put America first agenda, and the establishment swamp creatures have tried to undermine him at every turn. If they get behind him and start moving the agenda forward, they’re going to have problems in 2018. Democrats are still completely out of touch with most Americans. And again the transgender thing is a non issue for the majority of Americans.

It’s true. The fissures between the establishment Republicans and Trump supporters might be too large to bridge. For all the former Republicans who are sick and tired of Trump, the Democratic Party welcomes you. A return to Constitutional government begins soon.

As I suspected, my Liberal Pals finally have some good news and came running back to Watchblog to celebrate and prognosticate. They have been so silent of late because all the news was positive for Trump.

Now, our Pals got off their political deathbeds, and despite their recent illness, can dance again.

It is remarkable how clairvoyant they become with just a single election day. All the recent wins by Republicans are now conveniently forgotten.

Warren and phx8 are giddy with false illusions of the return of grandeur for the donkeys. Let’s not spoil it for them as it won’t last long.

There needs to be more birds-in-the-hand before an all out celebration is warranted. This seems to be more of a well deserved sigh-of-relief and, as you pointed out, the trend is anti-tRump/anti-nativism. So …. Yay! Popcorn, Yes! But no rest for the weary. The far-right+alt-right cabal is planning. The (R)s want to say ‘nothing to see here’, but that’s their wishful thinking.

dbs,
What agenda? Is there one? Trump said he would not cut Medicare or Medicaid, and then he came out in favor of health care proposals that would do both. He said he would oppose tax increases on the middle class. The current proposal would increase them. Before the election, Trump went on and on about how terrible the economy was doing. Now he praises the same economy and wants credit for it.

So part of the problem is that Trump has taken both sides on issues.

Another problem is that he has no idea how to implement his agenda. His immigration proposals were disasters, and unconstitutional to boot. He scrapped the Pacific Trade agreement, but never came up with an alternative, ceding economic leadership in that part of the world to China. He withdrew the US from the Paris Climate agreement, alienating every ally we have.

The agenda, if there is one, seems to consist of tearing apart Obama’s accomplishments through executive orders.

His cabinet is awful. His Secretary of State called Trump a “F——— moron” and never retracted it. His HHS Secretary resigned when it was revealed he was flying around in luxury at taxpayer expense. And he was just the worst of the lot, the sacrificial goat. Others were doing it too.

He lies constantly. He falsely accuses his predecessor of things like wiretapping. Trump constantly attacks his opponent in the last election. Maybe that makes you happy. But it divides the nation. It is impossible to govern with less than half the country behind the White House.

And then there is Russia. We have gone from no contacts between the Trump campaign and the Russians, to no meetings, to no collusion, to collusion isn’t a crime. The #1 and #2 guys from the campaign face 12 indictments, including “Conspiracy against the United States.” One of the five foreign policy advisors has already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. The National Security Advisor will probably be indicted soon along with a bunch of others. Trump fired the head of the FBI and then freely admitted it to stop the Russia investigation, resulting in a Special Counsel.

This is about as bad as it gets for a president. True, Trump has not crashed the economy like Bush, or started a war under false pretenses like Bush. But boy oh boy, is that a low bar!

I wrote in my Facebook page before the Virginia election that I had gone to candidate forums, met both men and that either was acceptable as governor. Despite the nasty ads near the end of the race, I think both were honorable men.

Both candidates fought off primary challenges from their nuttier wings and neither was well loved by the fridges. Strong Trump supporters said Gillespie was soft, while some crazy leftists actually called Northam a racist because of his moderate position on sanctuary cities.

This was an election where the moderates were going to win because both were moderates. In this election, I could vote for either candidate. This was a far cry from last year when I could vote for neither Trump nor Hillary.

It is too soon to declare the craziness over. Northam will disappoint the crazy left, just as outgoing governor Terry McAuliffe. Of course, he will be unable to placate the nuttier Trump supporters. But we at least are returning to the mean.

In his ads, Northam emphasized his Virginia roots and that he was moderate, a graduate of VMI (where Stonewall Jackson was a professor), an Army doctor and an opponent of sanctuary cities. He said that he didn’t think he could work well with Trump but that he would try.

The tax plan increases the standard deduction for middle class earners. Eliminating the deduction for state and local taxines will only affect those with more than 24k in itemized deductions. So actually it is the evil wealthy that would be most affected.

As far as his immigration plan being un constitutional. There is no constitutional right to come to this country as a foreigner. People living in other countries have no rights under our Constitution.

Thanks WP for writing an article. I agree with Dave here most of all. It was a nice victory, but I wasn’t impressed by any candidate other than Ms Roem. We need younger candidates, because that’s what the other guys will come up with to counter so many of the elderly individuals who will be seeking re-election. Even Diane Feinstein will have Democratic primary challengers.

As far as WP inviting in the opposition, that would probably drive out as many people as it brought in. These elections were also in places without voter suppression, which is still ramping up in other places. In Alabama, they’re talking about arresting people who voted in the Democratic primary, and also voted in the run-off.

The basic problem that the right wing has is that they always run on theories rather than reality. Their base is a minority within a minority. In Kentucky, the people working to sign up people for Obamacare couldn’t tell them that Kentucky Connect was Obamacare, because when they did, they wouldn’t sign up.

The alt-right wants cookie cutter candidates that represent general theories, instead of representing their constituents’ interests. At some point, they’re going to realize that the interests of the wealthiest aren’t the interests of anyone else.

“The basic problem that the right wing has is that they always run on theories rather than reality.”

You mean like HRC45 ? The theory Hilary was going to win by a landslide. All based on delusional assumptions that Trump couldn’t win, and endless wishful thinking by the MSM, and liberal pundits. And now this belief that 2 predictable elections were somehow a rebuke of Trump. Yeah okay.

C&J,
Prior to this election, Gillespie had a reputation as a moderate establishment Republican. He lost his last bid for the Senate by a percentage point. This time around he ‘embraced Trumpism’ in ads run in the southern part of the state. It went very poorly. This time he lost by 9 points.

As for taxes, there are at least three major problems:
1) the pass-through will allow people paying 39% to declare themselves consultants in their own LLC and pay only 25%.

2) If corporate loopholes are not closed, the official rate may decline from 35% to 20% or whatever, but the effective rate will drop to 20% to practically nothing, resulting in horrendous deficits and a lot more debt. Current estimates say the proposal will add $1.5 to $2 trillion to the debt.

3) The elimination of state taxes applies ONLY to state income taxes. It does NOT eliminate state sales tax write-offs. Current law allows a person to choose which tax to write off, depending on the state. The current proposal would punish ONLY states with income taxes. Since this effectively shifts more of the tax burden from blue states to red states, it makes the imbalance even worse.

It would be more fair if the write-offs for all state taxes- income, sales, and property- were eliminated.

WP & Dave,
I DO like popcorn! It is my go-to snack. And this should be a good year for it. Obviously a few elections a year prior to the midterm do not determine the outcome in advance, but it sure points in one direction.

I’ve been heralding next year’s Democratic wave for months already. It is painfully easy to see. Unless the Republicans can dramatically change their act and repair their image with the American people, their goose is cooked. Until then, the only question is Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Speaker Tim Ryan?.

dbs,

That divide is even greater.

What reason do affluent establishment Republicans living in blue state suburbs have to vote Democratic if the GOP raises their taxes?

People living in other countries have no rights under our Constitution.

Do our rights come from the Constitution? Or are they self-evident and endowed by our Creator?
Posted by: Warren Porter at November 8, 2017 5:18 PM

“I’ve been heralding next year’s Democratic wave for months already. It is painfully easy to see.”

As was the Republican wave under Obama. Are you guys going to use yesterday to predict the same results for democrats under Trump? It’s quite possible, especially if Trump doesn’t get the repeal of the ACA done.

“Unless the Republicans can dramatically change their act and repair their image with the American people, their goose is cooked.”

It’s a mid-term, Republicans are going to definitely lose seats. But seriously, you guys, especially Stephen here, have been saying that Republicans need to change now for the past decade. Do you honestly think that this time it’s true?

It’s a mid-term, Republicans are going to definitely lose seats. But seriously, you guys, especially Stephen here, have been saying that Republicans need to change now for the past decade. Do you honestly think that this time it’s true?

Yes, the incumbent’s party usually fares poorly during midterm elections. That was the original basis for my prediction earlier this year that the GOP was going to lose its majority unless it found a way to improve Americans’ opinion of it.

But seriously, you guys, especially Stephen here, have been saying that Republicans need to change now for the past decade. Do you honestly think that this time it’s true?

All I can say is that whatever it is that Republicans have been doing for the past decade isn’t working. You won some elections, but your coalition is too fragile to pass any meaningful legislation. Bills can’t even advance to the other chamber without complete subversion of the traditional process by Congressional leadership. Meanwhile, Democrats achieved many policy goals under Obama.

Some folks have very short memories. One year ago our Liberal Pals were convinced that Hillary would be president and we would have a Democrat Senate and perhaps House of Reps as well. All their dreams were dashed on the rocks of reality; not fake media and even more fake polls could compensate for utter failure.

You mean the election that Russia interfered in?

President Trump is doing a great job as the economy and job numbers will attest.

Nothing different than what happened in the last years of Obama’s term.
Posted by: Warren Porter at November 8, 2017 5:59 PM

C&J,
Just saw the current tax proposal would add $1.7 trillion to the deficit, according to the CBO. Not debt. Deficit. That is horrendous.

The worst part will be what happens when this economic cycle plays out and the next economic downturn comes. We would find ourselves in a terrible hole, and we would be forced to raise taxes and cut spending in a downturn, making the downturn even worse.

I truly do not think anything resembling the current proposal will pass, but if it did, it would only be a matter of time before it becomes a catastrophe.

RF,
The dissatisfaction among Trump supporters comes from the economic issue that drove them towards Trump in the first place: wages.

The continuation of the Obama recovery features a rising stock market, low interest rates, a construction boom, rising prices for housing, and low inflation, and full employment. The issue- the dissatisfaction- comes from Trump supporters not seeing any benefits to themselves in the form of wages. This past unemployment report was solid. Wages increased 2.4%. One year ago, under Obama, they increased 2.6% If nothing is done, full employment means the supply and demand for labor will drive up wages, but that is a painful way to do it, and it presumes the economy will not go down anytime soon.

The dems play softball while the repubs play hardball. The dems are a decade behind the repubs and the chance of turning the tide is small. Sure a few victories here and there during the off season is nice but a few victories every two decades isn’t much to speak of.

With the current attack on the legitimate media by Trump and his DOJ (ATT/CNN) and the conservative media (Sinclair broadcasting) flooding local stations with propaganda the people will be dumbed down even further by 2018. Just look at the Fox news crowd and ask yourself if they will switch their vote to Biden in 2020. Hell if Hitler ran on the repub ticket they wouldn’t vote for a dem.

The voter suppression and gerrymandering efforts of the repubs the past decade in many states will prevent any real damage to the repub majority on Congress. The dems depend on the “well maybe if it is convenient” voter to win. Those voters don;t show up often enough.

The repubs will be riding high on the Obama economy, taking credit and telling the foolish they will be trickled on any day now. Meanwhile the dems will be trying to convince everyone than transgendered people should be able to use any bathroom they want. Trump and the repubs will say and do whatever it takes, truth and integrity are not a requirement for the repub voter.

I would be careful thinking it will be easy, even after 2 years of Trump and the dysfunctional tea baggers insulting Americans with their corruption, lies and abuse. To many Americans like that type of abuse.

“2) If corporate loopholes are not closed, the official rate may decline from 35% to 20% or whatever, but the effective rate will drop to 20% to practically nothing, resulting in horrendous deficits and a lot more debt. Current estimates say the proposal will add $1.5 to $2 trillion to the debt.”

This is only true if you assume the economy will not grow when taxes are cut. Also you seem to forget that those taxes are passed on to consumers. So who ultimately pays those high rates ?

“3) The elimination of state taxes applies ONLY to state income taxes. It does NOT eliminate state sales tax write-offs. Current law allows a person to choose which tax to write off, depending on the state. The current proposal would punish ONLY states with income taxes. Since this effectively shifts more of the tax burden from blue states to red states, it makes the imbalance even worse.”

You’ve got this one backwards. And again, with the increase in the standard deduction this only affects those who itemize. The average couple doesn’t have more than 24k in in deductions meaning they’ll take the standard deductuion.

warren

“Russian propaganda hindered Democratic turnout. Have you seen the fake ads they pushed targeting non white voters and Bernie Supporters?”

Hilary and the DNC screwed Bernie. And as far as the the fake ads, how about the fake dossier paid for by the Clinton campaign. People living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Hilary and the democrats haven’t learned this yet apparently.

phx : “sure points in one direction”
Absolutely! But we have to put in the efforts to make sure it stays in that direction

ohrealy : ” I wasn’t impressed by any candidate”
I didn’t really know any of the candidates. Unfortunately, with so far only 2 or 3 exceptions, the R candidate today is horrifying. Any D would be better, or at worst the same. And at least then they would work as a (D).

Warren : “Unless the Republicans can … change their act”
Many people forget that 37% of people still like what they see with tRump. They want nihilism, bigotry, a return to “state rights”, etc… Although it’s a different mind set that is more in line with 1930’s Germany than the America I grew up in we must never forget that somehow the fascists came into power once and they may again. Look up Oswald Mosely.

“Just saw the current tax proposal would add $1.7 trillion to the deficit (over a ten year period), according to the CBO. Not debt. Deficit. That is horrendous.”

Really phx8. Compared to Obama adding $10 Trillion to our national debt in just eight years with nothing much to show for it, why worry about this paltry sum? $170 Billion per year is chump change for Schumer and Pelosi.

I do not like adding to our debt. The CBO scoring is as accurate as the Farmer’s Almanac predicting long term weather.

“Sure a few victories here and there during the off season is nice but a few victories every two decades isn’t much to speak of.”

I agree j2t2. The Dem’s winning a Dem held seat is hardly a giddy-producing election result.

It’s been so long since the Democratics won any election. This is something they will have to milk for a very long time.

I figured this would happen sooner or later. A Democratic wins an election and all of the sudden it’s 1960 again and the Democratic party is on the top of it’s game, according to some! Or so they spin, now. I was waiting for someone to start bragging about the election of a Democratic dog catcher. It was close to that with a Wisconsin city council seat. A Democratic won because he said he had a pussy, or some such nonsense. Typical Democratic excuses that mean nothing to people stuck in the real world. There were actually two of them elected. I’m waiting for the catfight to determine who gets to claim the title of “First Trap” elected to office. Who gives a shit about their qualifications, they’re the first!

Now that I think about it. It doesn’t matter. They both can be first! Thanks for participating!

Any D would be better, or at worst the same. And at least then they would work as a (D) Posted by: Dave at November 9, 2017 9:33 AM

I agree, but we still need better and younger candidates. The new governor elect of NJ is another Goldman Sachs guy. Here in IL, Pritzker is acting like he’s the nominee already. It’s pretty easy to attack him. Actual billionaires have as many entanglements as fake ones. The current governor has all the neighboring rpblcn governors in an ad blaming someone else for him not doing his job. He thinks he was elected to be the dictator, which must be the new rpblcn take on our system of government.

While I understand the gleeful Liberal celebration, they should be reminded of this fact.

“By the end of Obama’s second term, Republicans added 1,030 combined seats to their nationwide tally during his eight years in office, seats ranging from state legislatures, governorships, upward to Congress and now even the White House. Since then Republicans have also won all special elections, and prior to the two gubernatorial losses, gained one governorship as West Virginia’s Jim Justice changed parties.”

“All I can say is that whatever it is that Republicans have been doing for the past decade isn’t working.”

According to Royal’s link, “Republicans added 1,030 combined seats” over the past decade. A supposed Republican is President.
Truth is that Republicans haven’t really done anything for the past decade or two other than run as ‘not as far leftist’ on key issues, and it looks like it has been working pretty well for them.
The only thing that seems to not be working is the lefts use of identity politics and division to ‘transform’ the country.

“You won some elections, but your coalition is too fragile to pass any meaningful legislation.”

There is absolutely no doubt that the right side of the aisle that makes up this “coalition” is very fragile right now. They are in a battle between holding onto what little right-wing positions they have left, or moving further to the left on those issues.

“Meanwhile, Democrats achieved many policy goals under Obama.”

Yes, they did many end arounds and forced a lot of their policy goals onto the people. That’s why they have “added 1,030 combined seats to their nationwide tally”, why we have a President Trump, and why a lot of that policy can be done away with pretty easily.
Democrats blindly voting in lock-step isn’t an achievement of any kind.

I understand that President Trump and Vladimir Putin are in Vietnam with a world map and deciding who gets which country. I suggest we give Vlad California since many of their citizens prefer Putin’s kind of leadership and governance.

If you scroll through it, until July 2016 Trump talks about how much he respects Putin and how they have a great relationship- again and again and again. After July he denies ever having met him.

“And I can tell you, speaking for myself, I own nothing in Russia. I have no loans in Russia. I don’t have any deals in Russia.”
Donald Trump, February 16, 2017

Actually, he signed an LOI for Trump World Tower Moscow on October 13, 2015. That was the night of a GOP primary debate.

kctim,
The Russian propaganda reached over 120 million people on FB. Russian bots tweeted over 1 million times. It was especially active right after the Hollywood Access video came out, when Trump bragged about sexual predation, and 13 women came out to accuse him.

Do you believe advertising works? Do you believe advertising that replaces articles to the contrary can change the narrative, just by changing what people see? The Russians sure do. They have been doing that in Britain, France, just about every European country, and they have been doing that here, too. They still are doing it.

Meanwhile, conservatism and the GOP keeps falling and falling, and there is no bottom in site. Today Alabama conservative Republicans not only denied Roy Moore’s pedophilia- they actually tried to justify it, as if it were all right. The Alabama auditor provided a doozy of a quote:

“Take the Bible — Zachariah and Elizabeth, for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist. Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus.”

“There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual.”

And he’s not alone. Like I said, they are not just denying it happened, or saying ‘if true…’ There are Alabama conservatives saying it was ok.

phx8 keeps threatening to move to someplace in Europe. Provide your bank account number and I will deposit $100 to help you leave…you should not remain in my country and breathe the same air as those who believe in Constitutional Rights.

Polls are scientific estimates of a populations opinions. The results are “a fact”. I’m pretty sure in total more people dislike the republicans than the democrats. e.g. Where I live, it’s more like 5% approve of the GOP with 85% hating tRump.
Also, the election results are inarguable facts. So what ‘facts’ do you imagine ‘disprove’ the data?

j2t2 is almost always good for a laugh. The Republicans have been “running on empty the past decade”; yet they keep beating the Left.

Oh Royal always trying to spin what is said. Responding to kctims “Truth is that Republicans haven’t really done anything for the past decade or two other than run as ‘not as far leftist’ on key issues,” I simply agreed with him on this empty bag of ideas and principals. So when we add the voter suppression and the gerrymandering of the conservatives the past decade on top of the propaganda and the Russian influence we can see why they are winning elections. Throw in the electoral college and we have peoples votes not mattering due to the corruption by conservatives. You are not winning on ideology or ideas you are cheating to win Royal.

It’s strange how charges can be thrown around like this without an ounce of proof to back them up.

Cheating to win? Prove it. Show us the proof, j2t2.
Voter Suppression? Prove it. Show us the verifiable occurrences.
Russian influence? Really? Still? Show us the evidence after a year and a half of this noise!
While your at it, show us where Democratics didn’t do any gerrymandering during the 50 years they held all the power in D.C.

Well Weary it seems we agree on gerrymandering judging by your comment. Using the “they did it to” logic without any proof kinda confirms that …right?

Voter suppression, I have proven it on WB over the years Weary. From the hatching of the plan by conservative leaders in the 80’s to the efforts by conservatives to pass ALEC laws that only serve to suppress the statistically non-existent voting crimes while not going after more prevalent voter fraud crimes. Many of these laws have been churning through the judicial system. You have chosen to deny the obvious.

Why your deity Trump has even started a commission at the federal level to suppress the vote. This abuse of power is so overt it is unbelievable you cannot see it through those rose colored Trump glasses.

Russian influence still needs proved? My god man look around you. Paying Facebook to run fake political news and fake political ads isn’t enough for you? Are you so taken in you cannot identify propaganda when you see it? Just because Trump denied it? H**l Weary Trump denied Obama was an American citizen, he is hardly the go to guy on honesty.

If you don’t consider gerrymandering and voter suppression cheating what do you consider it Weary?

Yesterday he stood before the world and declared he believed Putin’s denials of interfering with the 2016 election. He denounced American intelligence as a bunch of “political hacks.”

CIA Director Pompeo repeated that he accepted the findings of American intelligence services, that Russia interfered.

Trump sided with an adversary- Putin- and against his own country. He countenanced interference with a free and fair election, advancing Russian aims of undermining western democracies in order to promote Russian interests, and undermining the ability of the US to defend itself against future attacks.

WW, it is right there in your face. It is undeniable. We were attacked and Trump is siding with the adversary. Trump is treason.

The funny thing is that the POS is making our vast military irrelevant, since we are no longer wanted in most places, which is of course part of the Russian agenda,

RUSSIAN MEDDLING
Facebook ads all bought and paid for, in Russian Rubles,
Twitter trolls with confirmed Russian IP addresses from “bot farms”
the security breeches and hacks into 25 states’ voter databases
all the phony denials of the dirty dealings with Russian lawyers
Kremlin Intel specialists tied to Putin in the Don Jr.,
Kushner and Manafort meeting at Trump Tower to remove
the Obama imposed sanctions against Russia regarding the Magnitsky Act
all these strange incidents of Trump associates and cabinet
members lying to cover up meetings with Russian ambassadors
and associates tied to Russian oligarchs

Don’t underestimate the importance of the POS not being invited to the Climate Accord summit next month. Other countries want a real treaty with enforceable goals, which we were against even under Obama. This could be a way for the other nations, including Russia and China, to put sanctions against the US. India could end up being our greatest ally.

Ohrealy,
A lot of people noticed Trump’s treasonous comments. A lot of people objected. Meeting his handler, Putin, completely overshadowed the foreign trip. Meanwhile, eleven nations- about 1/6 of the world’s economy- are proceeding with the TPP free trade zone. We abdicated our economic and political leadership, just as we did with the Paris Climate Accords. It is not America First, but America Alone. Or maybe Russia First.

One of the most amazing things about the way Putin undermined our democracy is how inexpensive it was. The Russian operation cost about as much as a modern jet fighter. It succeeded beyond their wildest expectations. They successfully attacked us, not with their military or economic power or using any cultural advantages, but through cyber warfare. It is worth remembering Putin was a KGB colonel.

He turned our advantages with technology and the internet against us and turned it into a vulnerability. He recognized the nature of the right wing echo chamber, put misinformation into it, and saw the chamber spread the propaganda throughout conservative platforms, ranging from Limbaugh & Hannity, to FOX, Breitbart, Drudge, and elsewhere. Virtually nothing was too far fetched not to be given credence.

The only thing undermining our government is the left harping on it constantly. And you guys are turning blue in the face harping about it. If you want to know what is ruining this country, look in the mirror.

The POS is a lost cause. He should never have been allowed to leave the country. The decimation of the State department is another clear example of putting russian interests over those of the US.

I’m waiting for fertilizer king Dmitry Rybolovlev’s name to surface again. I guess he’s hiding out in Monaco since he became too newsworthy. He seems to have avoided direct contact with the POS while following him around all the way up to nuclear football picture day at Mar a Lago. He may be the link between all the separate points of the Conspiracy Against The United States, from his former Breitbarf employee spokesperson, to meeting with Michael Cohen in the Hamptons, to meeting with Jared and Ivanka in Dubrovnik, to his shares in the Bank of Cyprus, and another meeting with Michael Cohen in Europe. Private jets are a good place to have private meetings.

j2t2, I have proof. It goes all the way back to 1812. Republicans weren’t even a party then. Democratics were.

How easily deceived you are Weary, especially if you are thinking this “proof” you offer is anything but nonsensical.

Your gerrymandering faux outrage is misguided at best.

All Americans should be outraged at politicians who intentionally redraw political districts with the intent of subverting the will of the American people. And at the citizens who cover for them.

I understand how many conservatives cannot come to terms with this concept as I have watched them deny the Trump Russia connection for so long. Whilst I understand I do not for one second condone such an antidemocratic act Weary. Undermining democracy for political gain is as fascist as it gets.

That’s a typical Democratic’s response to when things don’t go their way. Stack the deck until they do go their way. Look at how the republic has become a democracy in the Democratic’s eyes. They would never be able to pay for votes with taxpayer money if this was a true republic as it was founded.

The seventeenth amendment for the direct election of senators destroyed the state’s ability to check the HOR. Since the ratification of the 17th, the senate has become a glorified HOR and the states sit on the sidelines, subservient to the federal government.

The left has subverted the supremacy clause to where many believe the federal government has supremacy over the states. That’s not true! The states must give the federal government permission to act through amendments to the constitution. The federal government cannot dictate to the states unilaterally. It must have permission from 3/4 of the states before the supremacy clause has any effect.

It’s unbelievable how little the people understand about checks and balances built into the original constitution. An abolition of the Electoral College would be another step toward a true democracy. Some of us know how democracies end up. They end up with the people voting to bankrupt the treasury with selfish wants.

“No evidence” has been the claim for months , what y’all should be saying is “nothing we want to believe” along with “LALALALALALALa”.

Unending recounts has something to do with gerrymandering and voter suppression? I don’t even know what it is you are talking about dbs. Why not try commenting on the obvious gerrymandering.

Oh because you are to busy putting words in my mouth so you have a strawman to fight about! “We lost ! Abolish the electoral college !” Where did I say that? What next? Look over there a squirrel! Or anything but gerrymandering dbs?

That’s a typical Democratic’s response to when things don’t go their way. Stack the deck until they do go their way.

Gotta love you Weary, I give you facts, you call it stacking the deck. Just before you go off the deep end into radical right conspiracy theory. Well I haven’t the time nor energy to respond to these deflections so lets get back unto what you are in denial about, gerrymandering.

My point, oh but first let me say this-I’m not saying it was Trump or Trump won because of gerrymandering, so maybe you can actually read what is said instead of jumping to the defense of the messiah.

My point is the repubs have redistricted many areas since 2010 and this has resulted in gerrymandering that has drastically affected the HoR and the Senate. Not to mention at the state levels as well. Yes I know it has been done since the founding fathers, that both sides have done it in the past (just not at these levels we see today) but that doesn’t make it right or Constitutional. It usurps the will of the majority our republic is based upon.

Here is an article with some examples of deliberate attacks on the will of the people.

So it appears the dems cannot win enough in 2018 or 2020 elections to gain a majority in Congress. They have had more votes and less winners in many cases. We have suffered as a country because of it. The dems play softball and roll over whilst conservatives continue with this coup d’etat of our government.

As far as gerrymandering, the majority does the redistricting. You lose races because your ideas are unpopular. People are tired of corrupt big govt. That’s your siren song. Keep singing and keep losing.

I’m glad you finally realize you’re wrong about recent gerrymandering being a new phenomenon. It isn’t. Do you really believe Democratics held power in the HOR for a century without gerrymandering?

You’re right about my sharing your opinion about it. It’s used politically to benefit the party that’s responsible for the constitutional obligation. But, to bitch about it now because your party isn’t doing it is disingenuous at best. Dishonest is more like it. You’re complaining about it now because your party doesn’t control it. Just like you will be complaining about judicial advice and consent when that doesn’t go your way.

In most cases and that is the problem dbs. Look at California, they have an independent citizens commission to prevent this type of corruption. Yes corruption unless you believe the founding fathers and the Constitution meant for one party to usurp the will of the majority.

You lose races because your ideas are unpopular.

They do, sometimes dbs, lose elections based on unpopular issues. I have stated this on several different times on previous threads. Running on Gay rights and which bathroom someone uses isn’t popular, just as abortion isn’t, or higher taxes.

However that isn’t the only reason they lose elections. The efforts of the Gerrymandering and voter suppression work by GOP operatives have also been part of the equation. As has the propaganda arm of the conservative movement.

From the NYT link above- “Democrats received 1.4 million more votes for the House of Representatives, yet Republicans won control of the House by a 234 to 201 margin. This is only the second such reversal since World War II.”

People are tired of corrupt big govt.

Oh please, The Trump administration, Reagan administration. Big money influence is the middle name of conservatives dbs, who are you kidding. They have rigged the redistricting maps, if that isn’t corruption I don’t know what is.

Weary once again a strawman. Come on guys lets up the game a bit here. I never said gerrymandering was some new phenomenon Weary. Nothing of the sort. What I have said is because it is as old as the country doesn’t mean it is right.

What you need to understand Weary is it isn’t conservative ideology that is winning elections for repubs it is voter suppression and gerrymandering. What the dems need to understand is they won’t be winning elections enough to matter at the state and Congressional level until the system is fixed.

Do you really believe Democratics held power in the HOR for a century without gerrymandering?

In some parts of the country that may be just a small exaggeration Weary. But once again do you think that is what the founding fathers wanted for this country? What the Constitution calls for. That is isn’t corruption by conservatives for doing this the past 2 decades? Or do you actually believe it isn’t fascism when you do it Weary?

Most 1st world countries…well…
“The United States is alone among major countries in that self-interested politicians govern the redistricting process.[11]:820 Various political and legal remedies have been used or proposed to diminish or prevent gerrymandering in the country.”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering_in_the_United_States

Weary I am a bit ashamed of you for suggesting I drop this subject. I know you are faced with a tough choice as it is your team corrupting the election process but how cam you use the word hypocrisy in your argument when you one the one hand tell us every vote counts and on the other hand defend your teams use of gerrymandering as some legitimate action on their part? That my friend is as hypocritical as it gets. Interfering with the will of the majority in many cases is anti-American, unpatriotic and IMHO shows a complete lack on integrity. I am surprised an individual such as yourself would side with these scoundrels and their concerted effort to usurp control of the government from we the people.

Sure I have dbs you have chosen to not accept it. And yes I knew you weren’t listening…but that doesn’t make you right… or smart… just unable to listen. Look up the redistricting majority project so you can hear it from the horses mouth.

As far as gerrymandering, the majority does the redistricting.

In most cases, and that is the problem dbs. They do it for political gain not to better represent the will of the people. Look at California, they have an independent citizens commission to prevent this type of corruption. Yes corruption unless you believe the founding fathers and the Constitution meant for one party to usurp the will of the majority.

Most 1st world countries…well…
“The United States is alone among major countries in that self-interested politicians govern the redistricting process.[11]:820 Various political and legal remedies have been used or proposed to diminish or prevent gerrymandering in the country.”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering_in_the_United_States

You lose races because your ideas are unpopular.

They do, sometimes dbs, lose elections based on unpopular issues. I have stated this on several different times on previous threads. Running on Gay rights and which bathroom someone uses isn’t popular, just as abortion isn’t, or higher taxes.

However that isn’t the only reason they lose elections. The efforts of the Gerrymandering and voter suppression work by GOP operatives have also been part of the equation. As has the propaganda arm of the conservative movement.

From the NYT link above- “Democrats received 1.4 million more votes for the House of Representatives, yet Republicans won control of the House by a 234 to 201 margin. This is only the second such reversal since World War II.”

People are tired of corrupt big govt.

Oh please, The Trump administration, Reagan administration. Big money influence is the middle name of conservatives dbs, who are you kidding. They have rigged the redistricting maps, if that isn’t corruption I don’t know what is.

Weary once again a strawman. Come on guys lets up the game a bit here. I never said gerrymandering was some new phenomenon Weary. Nothing of the sort. What I have said is because it is as old as the country doesn’t mean it is right.

What you need to understand Weary is it isn’t conservative ideology that is winning elections for repubs it is voter suppression and gerrymandering. What the dems need to understand is they won’t be winning elections enough to matter at the state and Congressional level until the system is fixed.

Do you really believe Democratics held power in the HOR for a century without gerrymandering?

Weary!Pray tell what century was that, not that it is relevant,because, once again do you think that is what the founding fathers wanted for this country? What the Constitution calls for. That is isn’t corruption by conservatives for doing this the past 2 decades? Or do you actually believe it isn’t fascism when you do it Weary?

Weary I am a bit ashamed of you for suggesting I drop this subject. I know you are faced with a tough choice as it is your team corrupting the election process but how cam you use the word hypocrisy in your argument when you one the one hand tell us every vote counts and on the other hand defend your teams use of gerrymandering as some legitimate action on their part? That my friend is as hypocritical as it gets. Interfering with the will of the majority in many cases is anti-American, unpatriotic and IMHO shows a complete lack on integrity. I am surprised an individual such as yourself would side with these scoundrels and their concerted effort to usurp control of the government from we the people.

Who screamed the loudest when someone suggests there is voter fraud? You have said voter fraud is non-existent. How is it possible for there to be no voter fraud, yet Republicans are stealing elections?
I doubt we would hear a peep from you or the left about gerrymandering if Democratics were in control. In fact, I don’t remember gerrymandering being a problem during Reagan’s terms. Both houses were under Democratic’s control. I didn’t hear a word of complaint from the left then.
Democratics controlled both houses from the ’30s up till the ’80s. They controlled all three under Obama and they squandered their opportunity by forcing Obamacare against the will of the people. That’s why you’re loosing elections, j2t2, not because the Republicans are cheating. That’s just spoiled milk from the left.

The topic of the day is the recent elections Democrats have WON. With an attitude like that, it’s no wonder Republicans are going to lose big time in 2018. Nobody is going to rally around a naked emperor a second time around like they did last year.

“One of the most amazing things about the way Putin undermined our democracy is how inexpensive it was. The Russian operation cost about as much as a modern jet fighter.”

Really phx8?

The first time I recall reading about this attack, the price tag was only $100,000. I commented at the time that the Dems should copy this strategy and save hundreds of millions in promoting candidates. Is the cost inflation merely your imagination as are all your other Russian rants?

“They have rigged the redistricting maps, if that isn’t corruption I don’t know what is.”

OK j2t2, you don’t know what corruption is.

Have you forgotten the other branch of our national government? The judiciary holds the power to find redistricting to be gerrymandering. On occasion, judges have ordered the redrawing of congressional district lines.

You ignore the remedy and only rant about the results. We know why that is. You have to make excuses for losing elections. You can’t accept that voters don’t agree with your political philosophy.

There can be no gerrymandering for senate seats. How do you explain the Dems loss of seats in that body.

Repubs, Weary, Repubs scream the loudest. Both when they make claims such as Trump lost the popular vote because of the millions of illegals voting, and when they claim they need strict new laws to protect us from voter fraud, yet pass laws that do nothing to prevent the most prevalent types of voter fraud.

You have said voter fraud is non-existent. How is it possible for there to be no voter fraud, yet Republicans are stealing elections?

I have said the type of voter fraud the ALEC laws want to “protect” us from is statistically non-existent. There are some cases of voter fraud found Weary but the numbers are smaller than the number of neo-Nazi’s in America today. Who knows about the electronic voter fraud so far none has been proven to my knowledge.

I didn’t say the repubs stole elections Weary, I said the dems have a harder time winning elections in some states due to the significant amount of gerrymandering by repubs since 2000. That is just a fact.

In fact, I don’t remember gerrymandering being a problem during Reagan’s terms. Both houses were under Democratic’s control. I didn’t hear a word of complaint from the left then. Democratics controlled both houses from the ’30s up till the ’80s. They controlled all three under Obama and they squandered their opportunity by forcing Obamacare against the will of the people.

So Weary here is a link that graphically tells us who controlled the house and Senate since 1855, your info is off a bit.

That’s why you’re loosing elections, j2t2, not because the Republicans are cheating. That’s just spoiled milk from the left.

It seems we agree Weary. You suggest it is due to Obamacare and I have been saying all along the conservative propaganda machine is, which as we know was working overtime for 6 years on Obamacare.

Of course that isn’t the only reason but I have stated other reasons in this thread. I do disagree with you when you try to downplay the significance of the gerrymandering and voter suppression schemes used by the repubs across the country.

Have you forgotten the other branch of our national government? The judiciary holds the power to find redistricting to be gerrymandering. On occasion, judges have ordered the redrawing of congressional district lines.

I especially like the part about the North Carolina legislature rules that keep the districts partisan balance at 10 to 3. Cases do eventually make it to the SCOTUS Royal but that doesn’t always solve the problem especially in these times with a tainted SCOTUS. It also should be used as an excuse by conservatives to think gerrymandering is just politics as usual anymore.

Here is why I believe what I have said all along. It won’t be as easy as some think when it comes to dems gaining a majority. The times have changed and only a part of it is about the issues we as voters should be deciding on.

Repubs have worked hard and have a propaganda machine second to none. They have been extreme gerrymandering for a decade now and are seeing the fruits of their labor. Even if Trump signs this POS tax plan into law and the people backing him get burned it will be tougher to get the bus back on the road.

Unbelievable, your lack of recognition, j2t2! Simply unbelievable. You’ve just ejaculated that to serve your purpose, right? You said that as a vehicle to cast aspersions against Republicans, correct? It’s a means to an end, isn’t it?

Just ignore what’s been bull horned from the left for years. According to the cow eyed followers of Barack Obama they’ve been bragging about Obama’s computerized, social media, campaign machine that was second to none when he was campaigning, right?

Which is it, j2t2? Is Obama’s political machine second to none, or are you making stuff up to slander Republicans in general, again?

That’s more like it. The last thing the Democratics want to do right now is remind everyone how Obama’s political machine lied to them and sold them a promise that amounted to bribery and fraud. No, perhaps your little diversion from the facts is a self defense mechanism, much a kin to the fingers in the ears tactic you referred to earlier.

ohrealy, that certainly isn’t the way it’s supposed to work, is it? But then again, they’re not expected to show id when they vote either. What are you so worried about? This is what you want our electoral system to be, isn’t it?

Jones seems to be ahead of Moore in Alabamy, but who knows. The racist and rapist party will probably get out the vote for Moore. Maybe that drunk Bannon will convince Rebekah Mercer to pay up to buy enough votes.

““Strongly suggest your dad tweets this link if he mentions us,” WikiLeaks went on, pointing Trump Jr. to the link ……., which it said would help Trump’s followers dig through the trove of stolen documents and find stories. “There’s many great stories the press are missing and we’re sure some of your follows [sic] will find it,” WikiLeaks went on. “Btw we just released Podesta Emails Part 4.”

Trump Jr. did not respond to this message. But just 15 minutes after it was sent, as The Wall Street Journal’s Byron Tau pointed out, Donald Trump himself tweeted, “Very little pick-up by the dishonest media of incredible information provided by WikiLeaks. So dishonest! Rigged system!”

Two days later, on October 14, 2016, Trump Jr. tweeted out the link WikiLeaks had provided him. “For those who have the time to read about all the corruption and hypocrisy all the @wikileaks emails are right here: ……..” he wrote.”

Which is it, j2t2? Is Obama’s political machine second to none, or are you making stuff up to slander Republicans in general, again?

It is 1. Weary Obama had a political machine that was very effective in getting the vote out and such. But something still doesn’t sound right, you seem to be confused. I was giving credit to the conservative propaganda machine when I said second to none. I was referring to propaganda machines and I was including Goebbels work in Germany when I was writing this. You seem to be confusing a political campaign and a propaganda machine as you recall what you think was said about Obama.

I suppose it is because you are so caught up in the echo chamber, as it is called, you cannot get the big picture enough to realize the breadth and scope of the conservative propaganda machine.

The last thing the Democratics want to do right now is remind everyone how Obama’s political machine lied to them and sold them a promise that amounted to bribery and fraud.

And that is because Trump and the repub leadership in Congress is doing anything different? You must be off your meds to make such profoundly projecting statements such as you do Weary. Trump Weary, we are living in the Trump era and you want to project unto the Obama administration bribery and fraud! I rest my case on the echo chamber thing.

At Fort Meade, MD, ​”United States Army Cyber Command directs and conducts integrated electronic warfare, information and cyberspace operations as authorized, or directed, to ensure freedom of action in and through cyberspace and the information environment, and to deny the same to our adversaries.”

Update on James Woolsey, who turned in Flynn for their dealings in Turkey. The POS called him in for a meeting at the WH last week. This is another count of witness tampering, and an indirect way of communicating with Mueller. This could be why ethics lawyer James Schultz quit.

Congratulations to Senator-elect Doug Jones. Roy Moore may have made the race competitive by his actions 40 years ago, but it took true political acumen to capitalize on that. Jones deftly threaded the needle and got African-Americans to turn out while capturing a bigger shate of the white vote than most Democrats. It is never easy to win in the deep south with a pro-choice candidate like he did.

Something crooked could still happen in alabama to change the result. It was a close election, so half the population voted for a guy who went to an underage brothel in Vietnam. He’s their kind of guy, dirt.

Why don’t we actually talk about why he really lost the election instead of the baseless accusations the left is conjuring up?

Please do elaborate Weary. When you said the dems could only win against a pervert who and what exactly were you talking about?

I think it was because he leans toward God and not toward government as his savior, but what do I know?

Is this because people in Alabama lean towards government as their savior or because they consider God to be perverted? You don’t seem to be making sense Weary.

I would suggest that the Jones victory may well be a miracle Weary, perhaps when all those Moore followers were praying they were thinking Jones not Moore should be the beneficiary of said prayers. You know something along the lines of “please God let the man with integrity win” and boom a miracle occurs and Jones is the winner. What do you think?

You said Democrats can only compete with perverts. Ralph Northam did a fine job competing against Ed Gillespie just 6 weeks ago, did you forget? So, according to your statement, does that mean you believe Ed Gillespie to be a pervert?

Erotic stories from our readers are popular on NyeVibber. Do you want to get your story presented to thousands of readers? We seek you who can write short stories with erotic content crazy”>https://www.crazylove.no/blogg”>crazy love blogg

Individuals from the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are considered for reelection each even year. Legislators in any case, serve six-year terms and races to the Senate are stumbled over even years with the goal that lone around 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection amid any decision.

It’s really a very nice article amazing in fact. For students help you just look at the Assignment help given by the assignment experts. Opting for our Assignment Help Online could be ideal for such students and they can get a complete assignment solution from us.

Singaporeassignmenthelp.com is popular in singaporean students for buy assignments online at a very nominal price. If you are looking for the best essay writing service for Singaporean students then our experts are available to guide you and offer you effective assignment services.

These kinds of articles and reviews can be often pleasing and even my group is pleasant to see this type of plenty of decent time these Best Construction Company With the blog post publishing it’s essentially unusual a good deal required designed for writing.